One get's the feeling around here lately that we're living in Old England rather than New England it's been raining so much this month. The sun has been more scarce around here than hookers in Vatican City, and believe me when I tell you, it's getting old. At least most of the rain has been during the week, and has spared most of our June rides so far. All eyes were on the forecast at the end of last week because this past Saturday was Jackson's annual Day Ride to Laconia Bike Week in New Hampshire. For a while it looked like only ducks would be having a good time there, but we lucked out and got the only passable day of the weekend. We left around 9 in the morning and had a cloudy but dry 140 mile ride up to the rally. Naturally, since it was a Jackson ride, the first thing we did when we got there is find a bar.
After quenching our thirst with the traditional "Blackstone 1," which is really 3, we headed next door to check out the goings on at the local Harley dealership. What a surprise...they had beer over there too. They had tons of tee shirts as you'd expect, and lots of vendors.
I don't remember if it was at this booth or one like it down at Weir's Beach that Jackson and Michele bought a luggage bag for the back of the bike, but they got a nice one for only 60 bucks.
Jackson doesn't have saddlebags on his Deluxe, and honestly I don't know how Michele and he have gotten by this long without them, but now they at least have a roomy, portable bag to keep their stuff in when they're on the bike. It got used right away too as you see here right before we left - I think they must've bought at least 8 tee shirts.
I wasn't on a mission for lots of über sexy biker chick pics on this trip like I usually am. For one thing, there were cops everywhere, and I heard that the fine for indecent exposure up there is around $250. So, there were no titty shows in Laconia. I did see the Harley-Davidson "Mystique" in action though, this time in the form of this über cool biker lady with her son in tow. Sorry it's a crappy picture, but people move fast at these things. I didn't see a guy with her, and I think a woman who rides her own and brings her son with her to a rally is what it's really all about. I really like her boots too; I thought they were very cool looking. I betcha that kid's friends use any excuse they can find to come hang at his house!
Ok, before you think I'm not feeling well or something, there were a couple of cool chicks putting on a little biker style acrobatics for the crowd...
I have to give them credit...I wouldn't do it!
The funky sky in this one made me think "Riders on the Storm."
Witness the only two chicks at the rally who were able to get high in front of the cops and not get busted for it.
Fans of SOA were happy to see they had a small SAMCRO "clubhouse" set up, and being a fan I had to go in and check it out. Call me crazy, but I have a feeling this dude's tee shirt didn't do much for him with the ladies...
Replica of SAMCRO VP Jackson Teller's cut. That was pretty cool, although I'm sure that the 81 members who were there weren't impressed.
Even though we had a great time, it was more about being with a great group of people for me than it was the place or the events. Most of you know that a rally is basically a rally. Been to one; been to 'em all. This was my first trip to Laconia, but Jackson and Michele have gone every year for 25 years, and they say it used to be much more fun years ago before the cops cracked down and ruined the more wild atmosphere that is really what draws people. New Hampshire, like Massachusetts, is of course controlled by Democrats, and the party that sells itself as being for the "working man" is doing everything it can to just about outlaw fun in the two states. I don't know why we squawk so much about North Korea, because we're turning into it. Am I saying there shouldn't have been Staties there? No. But, one every 100 feet is a little excessive.
Sorry, I digress. Like the saying goes, this was about the journey not the destination. As the afternoon passed, we noticed the clouds getting darker and meaner looking, and getting out of there was gonna take some time. There was nasty traffic, backed up for a half mile in places, and we all needed gas. By the time we were back on the highway heading for home, the sky was really ugly. Our good luck held though, and we did the trip back without a drop of rain, which started falling within an hour after we got home.
My first trip to the legendary Laconia was memorable in so many ways. I wish I could share every single thing that made it special for me, but I think this post is long enough. Like anytime a group of bikers ride out on an adventure, there are plenty of stories to share, and a few that always have to stay where they belong: On the road.
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